The Open 2023 LIVE: Final round golf leaderboard and updates as Brian Harman cruises to victory
Harman produced a composed final round to hold off the likes of Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood to win the 2023 Open Championship at Hoylake
Brian Harman won The Open in style as a nerveless final round saw him turn his healthy overnight lead into a convincing victory for his first major title.
The 36-year-old American won by six strokes after shooting a one-under-par final round of 70 in soggy conditions at Royal Liverpool to finish 13-under for the tournament.
His overnight lead of five strokes was never truly threatened and, in the end, there was a four-way tie for second place between Jon Rahm (70), Jason Day (69), Sepp Straka (69) and 21-year-old Tom Kim (67).
Home favourites Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy showed flashes of what they were capable of and looked set to close the gap on a couple of occasions but eventually fell away in the face of Harman’s mistake-free golf. His win was built on keeping his ball out of the bunkers and his brilliance on and around the greens. He missed just one putt under 10 feet all week on the Hoylake links to deservedly lift the Claret Jug.
Follow reaction from the fourth round of the 151st Open Championship at Hoylake below:
The Open 2023: Rahm cuts Harman’s lead at five
Rahm -7 (5), Harman -11 (4)
The bearded Rahm, with his cap back to front to stop the rain dripping in front of him, delicately brushes the ball in for a birdie on five.
Harman finds his ball, takes a drop on the fifth, the American bashes a fairway metal and it’s just short of the green. Up and down? He’ll make a miraculous save.
The Open 2023: Harman finds more trouble on five
Harman -11 (4), Rahm -6 (4)
Harman cuts his drive off the fifth, and it quickly gets out to the left and stays there, falling in a bush, trouble ahead.
Rahm up ahead putts his third shot up to about three feet, surely he’s going to -7 any moment now. And it could be better if Harman doesn’t find himself an escape route from the bush.
The Open 2023: Rahm in great position to cut Harman lead
Rahm -6 (4)
It’s 237 yards on the fifth, looking to chop this par five in two. It falls agonisingly short, but he’s in position for a chip and a putt to go to -7.
The Open 2023
Harman -11 (4), Young -6 (4), McIlroy -6 (9)
McIlroy on 10 now, still -6, sends a bullet down the middle of the fairway, a gorgeous right-to-left shape on that one.
Young is chipping on four, having just missed the green, he’ll have an easy par putt
Harman misses a birdie putt on four, he stays at -11.
The Open 2023: Harman makes sublime save on three
Harman -11 (3), Young -6 (3)
That’s quite brilliant, from seven feet, Harman drains the par putt to stay at -11. What nerves!
The Open 2023: Harman in big trouble on three
Harman -11 (2), Young -6 (3)
This is rotten on three, chopping down, the ball skids out and fizzes past the pin. Another could go for Harman here.
Young, eyeing birdie at three to regain that shot that was frittered away at the last, it’s never in but the pace is good. A settler for the American, he may soon be four behind.
The Open 2023
Harman -11 (2), Fleetwood -6 (5)
Harman from 192 on three has short-sided himself and tumbles into the thick rough. This could be a problem for the leader!
Fleetwood then buries a birdie on five, he moves to -6.
McIlroy’s tester from 20 feet is cosied up to the pin and he’ll safely move to the back nine at -6, five shots off the lead.
The Open 2023: Rahm misses birdie try as McIlroy continues charge
McIlroy -6 (7), Rahm-6 (3)
McIlroy on the eighth, his drive dribbles into the first cut, no drama there though.
Rahm sees his birdie try on three sail by. He stays at -6 after tidying up.
The Open 2023: Harman bogeys the 2nd
Harman -11 (2), Young -6 (2)
Not a great chip from Harman. there’s no future beyond the pin given the angle he’s coming in from but he’s far too tentative and comes up well short. Probably 20 feet, up and across a slope to save par. Nope - he misses short and taps in for bogey. Back to -11.
Meanwhile, Young gives his birdie putt a good roll but it’s wide right. He stays at -6, five back alongside Rahm and McIlroy.
The Open 2023: Problems for the leader?
Harman -12 (1), Young -6 (1)
Hmmm, first issue of the day for Brian Harman at 2. Four great shots on the 1st for a par before a lovely tee shot down the 2nd fairway but his sixth shot of the day is well right of the 2nd green. He looks down at his club in frustration.
A tough up and down from the rough upcoming. Meanwhile, playing partner Cam Young goes flag hunting with his second shot and leaves himself around a 13-foot birdie look
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